From Sesame Street To Sesame Dark Alley Filled With Crack Whores
Vintage "Sesame Street" episodes now come with a label that they aren't safe for children: “These early ‘Sesame Street’ episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child.” Huh? (Next thing you know, they'll be burning Beatrix Potter outside the library.)

Virginia Heffernan writes for The New York Times of America's nanny culture gone mad, sending old "Sesame Streets" to the scrap heap with all the monkey bars:

Nothing in the children’s entertainment of today, candy-colored animation hopped up on computer tricks, can prepare young or old for this frightening glimpse of simpler times. Back then — as on the very first episode, which aired on PBS Nov. 10, 1969 — a pretty, lonely girl like Sally might find herself befriended by an older male stranger who held her hand and took her home. Granted, Gordon just wanted Sally to meet his wife and have some milk and cookies, but . . . well, he could have wanted anything. As it was, he fed her milk and cookies. The milk looks dangerously whole.

Live-action cows also charge the 1969 screen — cows eating common grass, not grain improved with hormones. Cows are milked by plain old farmers, who use their unsanitary hands and fill one bucket at a time. Elsewhere, two brothers risk concussion while whaling on each other with allergenic feather pillows. Overweight layabouts, lacking touch-screen iPods and headphones, jockey for airtime with their deafening transistor radios. And one of those radios plays a late-’60s news report — something about a “senior American official” and “two billion in credit over the next five years” — that conjures a bleak economic climate, with war debt and stagflation in the offing.

...The old “Sesame Street” is not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for softies born since 1998, when the chipper “Elmo’s World” started. Anyone who considers bull markets normal, extracurricular activities sacrosanct and New York a tidy, governable place — well, the original “Sesame Street” might hurt your feelings.

I asked Carol-Lynn Parente, the executive producer of “Sesame Street,” how exactly the first episodes were unsuitable for toddlers in 2007. She told me about Alistair Cookie and the parody “Monsterpiece Theater.” Alistair Cookie, played by Cookie Monster, used to appear with a pipe, which he later gobbled. According to Parente, “That modeled the wrong behavior” — smoking, eating pipes — “so we reshot those scenes without the pipe, and then we dropped the parody altogether.”

Which brought Parente to a feature of “Sesame Street” that had not been reconstructed: the chronically mood-disordered Oscar the Grouch. On the first episode, Oscar seems irredeemably miserable — hypersensitive, sarcastic, misanthropic. (Bert, too, is described as grouchy; none of the characters, in fact, is especially sunshiney except maybe Ernie, who also seems slow.) “We might not be able to create a character like Oscar now,” she said.

Snuffleupagus is visible only to Big Bird; since 1985, all the characters can see him, as Big Bird’s old protestations that he was not hallucinating came to seem a little creepy, not to mention somewhat strained. As for Cookie Monster, he can be seen in the old-school episodes in his former inglorious incarnation: a blue, googly-eyed cookievore with a signature gobble (“om nom nom nom”). Originally designed by Jim Henson for use in commercials for General Foods International and Frito-Lay, Cookie Monster was never a righteous figure. His controversial conversion to a more diverse diet wouldn’t come until 2005, and in the early seasons he comes across a Child’s First Addict.

Although I was born in 1964, as an early and voracious reader, I didn't watch "Sesame Street," but my sisters did, and at this moment, I'm 99.99987% positive neither one is whoring out her body for a hit of crack, smack, meth, or cheese.

Likewise, I have somehow managed to make it through much of 1940s cinema without turning into a chain smoker, despite those onscreen inhaling probably the entire annual crop of the state of Kentucky during that decade.

Of course, the way I see it, the real problem these days is the fact that we're raising a nation of wussies with a gift for emotional blackmail: "Daddeeeeeeey, I wannnna poneeeeeeey!"

And no, the correct response to that isn't, "At your service, Pumpkin!" coupled with a mad dash to the computer to look up the nearest Shetland ranch.

Comments

Nice post.

Parente sounds like one of those people I'd like to put in a burlap bag and hit with a broomstick whenever I need to be cheered up.

Then again, when I'm trying to be philosophical about these things, I remind myself that I wouldn't appreciate the Jim Henson types as much if it weren't for her types. At least in this case the world is correctly recognizing merit. Henson is famous and what's-her-name isn't.

It's also a nice reminder about how much positive impact an individual can have and how much institutions tend to regress to the mean.

Shawn
at November 20, 2007 4:05 AM

Parente sounds like one of those people I'd like to put in a burlap bag and hit with a broomstick whenever I need to be cheered up.

Shawn, that'd be insulting to the broomstick!

I used to love Sesame Street, and I'd watch it with my younger brothers every chance I got, who also loved it. I remember when ZZ Top was on, to promote the letter 'Z'. And Wanda the Witch, who live somewhere West of Washington. And the Count. And Sven the baker, couldn't understand a word he said but his antics were funny as hell. How sad that today's kids will never know how much fun that show was. I even loved Oscar, especially when he was raggin' on Big Bird! I wish I had been able to tape those old episodes, but we didn't have VCRs back then. Key-riste, I'm old. o_O

Flynne
at November 20, 2007 5:33 AM

Sheesh. Though Sesame Street didn't start until I was almost out of high school, I do have many of the old shows on DVD which my son still enjoys. And Monsterpiece Theater was one of their best bits. The new shows seem to do nothing but harp on "healthy eating" and "exercise". Not that I have anything against either of those, but it's relentless.

I wasn't allowed to watch much TV, but I did watch Sesame Street. And Electric Company, which is where I first saw Spider-Man, which I am guessing was the trigger for my eventual 15-year comics habit. Oh, and I watched Zoom, too. No signs of crack whoredom in my life, though those comics did cost quite a bit over the years. However, I did know my alphabet and my basic numbers in English and Spanish at an early age.

The fact that they're neutering Cookie Monster is SO depressing. C is for COOKIE, damnit. And I will always love Oscar the Grouch (and his friend Wormy). Sigh.

marion
at November 20, 2007 7:42 AM

I grew up with Mr. Rogers, Sesame Street, Electric Company, and 321 Contact. The latter provided me with enough interest in science that by 6th grade I was correcting (and was right) my science teacher. It was the one year I spent in a private Protestant school. Those Jesuits can usually run a lean/mean school, but the Protestants usually just take any Christian with a pulse as a teacher.

I loved the old Sesame Street too, and since I was born in 1959, I saw them while growing up. (also not a crack-whore!)

I also watched the uncensored Bugs Bunny when I was a kid, and I can't tell you how upset I am that they have censored Bugs! I had seen most of them enough times to know when stuff was missing, so I complained to Teletoon, and they said they had no control over the content.

Chrissy
at November 20, 2007 8:33 AM

I suppose my love of cookies could be considered excessive. I guess this is where it came from.

Darry
at November 20, 2007 8:37 AM

Chrissy, me too, I LOVE Bugs Bunny! I have Bugs Bunny checks, even! And I have a 3 hour tape of old uncensored, uncut Bugs Bunny cartoons, starting with "Rabbit Squab" - remember that one, with the cute little giggly rabbit "squab" and Pete Puma? "How many lumps you want?" "Oh, three er four." o_O

Flynne
at November 20, 2007 8:55 AM

Chrissy- almost all the original Bugs/Daffy etc. are available to watch on Youtube. My 3 year old and I watch a few everyday.

(I remember as a kid running around saying "yassir Mr Benny" or "yassam". Imagine how well that would go over in schools today.)

eric
at November 20, 2007 9:01 AM

I was born in 1971, the prime year for early and prolonged exposure to Sesame Street, the Electric Company, Zoom, 321 Contact and all the rest. I remember my parents coming into the family room to watch the old Bugs Bunny cartoons with me on Saturday mornings. They loved them just as much as I did. Compared to the focus-grouped pap now on TV, they're so unbelieveably funny (love that Foghorn Leghorn!)--and not in a sneering, hip and ironic Family Guy kind of way.

I introduced a friend's six-year-old daughter to the Pink Panther, the Ant and the Aardvark and the Inspector cartoons this past summer. Much to my delight, I found they still have the ability to make me laugh. It's surprising the creators thought Jackie Mason-type humor would work with us 60s and 70s kids, but it did. And it still does, with the right kid.

Thanks Flynne & eric-you made my day-I'm going to watch some of those when I'm not at work (laughing is not acceptable at work!)

I loved that Peter Puma cartoon! I saw a bunch of uncut ones at a rep theatre once, and there were lots of kids in the audience. They were laughing so hard they were crying, especially at the one with Foghorn & the dog beating the crap out of each other.

Chrissy
at November 20, 2007 10:09 AM

I love the ones where Foghorn and the dog beat the crap out of each other!

And the Bugs Bunny cartoon with the Mad Scientist and Gossamer the monster!

Flynne
at November 20, 2007 10:43 AM

Stephen Colbert got the Cookie Monster hysteria on the Daily Show years ago - in ballpark numbers, CM's unhealthy eating messages were so destructive to him that Colbert has personally gained 150 pounds since watching him as a child. Year he was born? 1965.

Scott
at November 20, 2007 11:01 AM

But all I really want to know is, whatever happened to Peabody and Sherman?

Flynne
at November 20, 2007 11:05 AM

I still can't count to twelve without singing:

one two three four five
six seven eight nine ten
eleven twe-e-e-e-lve

"C is for COOKIE, damnit" - Word.

smurfy
at November 20, 2007 11:10 AM

...I grew up on "Kids Incorporated," "The World of David the Gnome" "The Adventures of the Gummi Bears." Sesame Street was just "aiight" but I totally rocked out w/ Mr. Rogers. I loved when he fed the fish - but got annoyed that he had to put on "inside shoes." Slippers are more comfy.

Gretchen
at November 20, 2007 11:41 AM

Look up retro shots of Electric Company on YouTube - wow - brings back memories. See who was on that show -- and the great clothes!

I remember watching the very first Sesame Street in 1969 at the age of four.

Oh my god! I totally forgot about those 2 shows. Witchy poo rocked! I guess they were very 60s. How about The Monkees show? That was my favourite in grade 5. All the girls had their fav Monkee. They liked Davey, I liked Mikey (who is apparently gay-I'm a fag hag?)

Chrissy
at November 20, 2007 12:12 PM

Today I was reading some article on 'sesame street'. I said "oh my God they are not doing this to this show too??" I can't believe this. I grew up in the 80's. I saw alot of the re runs of the older 'sesame street'. You know I didn't see a dang thing wrong with it. My dad was real strict what me and my sister watched on TV when we were kids. If thier had been a problem with some of the shows being blasted by media today, my dad would've never let us watch them. I am getting rather tired of this crap. I grew up with 'Reading Rainbow' and "mr Rogers' as well. Nothing wrong with them ethier. I turned out okay.

I don't have children currently but I've nephews that live in the house with me. You know what I let them watch "sesame street'. I see nothing wrong with it. Besides, it does give a view of the other side of the fence. The neighborhoods don't have to look like suburbia to be accpeted. TV today gives most kids the impression you've to have money and live in surburban neighborhoods to be accepted. What kind of impression does that give?? TV sucks nowadays anyway.

I've another point I've to make about this. Alot of TV shows today send message of voilence. Whether it be emotional or physical voilence, it doesn't matter. I guess its ok to use a gun or beat the crap out of somebody. That's the message that's being sent.

My point to all of this is leave the 'old shows' alone. This is apart of TV history. Kids have a right to see this history and learn from it as I did. You can see what this generation can learn from it. At least it won't be telling them I have to act and be a certain way to be accpeted.

Like I said, I am tired of hearing about this. I hope someone has the sense to stop this media madness before the whole TV history is deleted and can be never watched again.

I ask one question 'What would happen if our TV history got deleted?'

"Would it make a difference?" Personally it would to me and many others that have enjoyed it. Its unfair for the media and writers to cash in on this. Put a stop to this or we won't have any history to look up to or to read.

Jackie
at November 20, 2007 12:30 PM

"If me'd known you were coming me'd have baked a cake, (one cake!), baked a cake (two cakes!), baked a cake (three cakes!), if me'd known you were coming..." And yet, somehow I managed to pick up proper grammar. As for Oscar, thinking about him reminds me of Florence King's assertion that all children are naturally misanthropic before the cheer police get hold of them.

You know, the original Sesame Street DVDs seem to me to be an excellent gift for a baby or toddler, if you get roped into or are inspired to give such a thing.

marion
at November 20, 2007 12:32 PM

I never thought of Fat Albert as a show promulgating sterotypes of obese African Americans (sponsored, I might add, by "pudding pops") hosted by an oppressed African American man who labored in a junk yard (and whose work ethic was less than enthusiastic), but now my eyes have been opened.

eric
at November 20, 2007 4:00 PM

These days you'd have to call him "Perhaps Genetically Predispositioned To Overweight Albert." By the time you get all that out, I've changed the channel.

I'm going to nominate this for Amy's "Blog post least likely to create controversy among her readership." And then mention Petey Wheatstraw, The Devil's Son in Law. We'll never see a movie to compare. It's not really relevant, though.

justin case
at November 20, 2007 7:38 PM

Remember Yosemite Sam marrying this huge, fireplug of a woman because she was rich? He was always blustering about leaving, but then she'd stick the bank book in his face, blocking his face completely with the pages- and his blusters would trail off-"errrrr....uuummmmm.....ahhhh..."

Man, those cartoons were great!

That said, of course every generation has this conversation- "entertainment was great when I was a kid, not like this crap they've got now!"

My grandmother- a teacher- used to decry Disney's use of classical music soundtracks as Donald Duck's "Quacking through the classics."

Allison
at November 20, 2007 10:31 PM

> The fact that they're neutering
> Cookie Monster is SO depressing.

There was a good book about Doctor Suess a few years ago that made the point that one reason kids liked him so much is that he always made it clear that being bad was fun. Remember those drawing of Mother depicted as a huge feet & shoes?

Star-bellied, and thanks for asking.

Crid
at November 21, 2007 1:50 AM

Sneetch! o_O

Flynne
at November 21, 2007 5:35 AM

Actually, the reason I put Beatrix Potter in there is that her books are actually pretty realistic. Characters are dumb and get eaten by other animals when they are. I'm surprised nobody's gone after her books yet. Or have they?

Not that I'm aware of, Amy. I have the complete collection of her works, and I love them. I will be reading them to my grandchildren, just as I read them to my girls, who also liked them. I'm totally freaked out that there are so many people out there who are willing to let their children believe that the world is full of rainbows and pink ponies and happily ever after. That is NOT the real world, and my children are going to be prepared for all the ruthless bastards out there, while still knowing that there are some good people out there too. YMMV

Flynne
at November 21, 2007 7:27 AM

I read my neighbor's little girl the one with the duck, where it's almost eaten by the fox, and I was pleasantly surprised.

(**No, I don't dislike all children, I just dislike encountering all the underparented ones in public.)

Beatrix Potter is a huge one for my son. Not only do we have the whole collection in hard copy, they also grace my e-reader (we have over six hundred books on the laptop, great for trips).

Unfortunately, they have been banned in at least four school libraries that I know of, I would assume more of them. Mr Samuel Clemens has been banned from the libraries of two of those schools. As was (S.E.?) Hinton, author of several books showing the darker side of adolescence.

I showed this post to my partner last night, along with the article which inspired it. Her comment was; "I don't know whether to laugh or cry. We have had to discuss such issues as crack smoking and gang-violence with our five year old. The first because we have seen people hitting the glass, while out for walks. The latter, because we had to talk about what to do if he finds a gun on the street (one was found two days after the last shooting in our 'hood, in an apartment driveway, found by a four year old).

Having gotten the bug for writing children's texts, I would love to write a book for younger children that addresses these issues. Alas, I fear that it would not be well received in this day and age. Which is quite unfortunate, as it is very appropriate for this day and age.

Geez, DuWayne, where do you live that they've banned S.E. Hinton's 'The Outsider'? 'Rumble Fish', too? Those were 2 of my favorite books of all time! I was so pleased that 'The Outsider' was required reading in daughter #1's freshman English class, and she really enjoyed it as well. We had our own discussions about it, and she showed me her classroom assignments on it (and then rolled her eyes when I corrected her spelling and puncuation! They were minimal mistakes, though.).

Flynne
at November 21, 2007 10:51 AM

Flynne -

The ones that banned Hinton, also banned Potter. They were Kalamzoo area schools. One was Otsego, for the life of me, I can't remember the other (which I really should as it was the system a rather important ex-gal went to - been away far too long).

Ahh, it was Gull Lake (oddly, no lake by that name). They had a huge stink because an english teacher in the district, unaware that they had been pulled, assigned students to read Rumble Fish. Mind you, the school still had copies in storage. Parents complained and the teacher got in a little trouble for it. But it made the papers at that point, which is when it came out that Otsego had also banned them. It may well be that the policies have since changed, this was several years ago. The surrounding controversy really pissed a lot of people off. Especially when they learned that Otsego had also banned Twain and both had banned Potter.

It was also my very first foray into activism. I decided to look into what books/authors other area districts, including my own, had banned. With the aid of my local public librarian, I discovered that my own district didn't have a banned list and actually had a few more controversial authors in the system. I did get a pretty good list of the other districts in the area that banned books. (this was also when I first learned that the librarian was gay, from a fellow church member - it was also the first time I heard my dad swear, when he responded to their concerns for my welfare with a resounding "fuck you.") We made a huge stink about it, got some community support and actually got one district to rescind it's ban list.

I've just been reading and keeping my comments to myself, but that last line (I waanna poooonnnnyyy!) really got to me. As a lifelong horsewoman and sometimes professional (when I was younger and skinnier), especially raising up my youngest son who shares my love of horses, we've both gotten back into showing in the last year. I see these spoiled kids everywhere. And it isn't just about the pony, but about the huge truck and $40,000 trailer to pull it. Then the horse (or pony) isn't a winner, so there are more lessons and a more expensive horse on the advice of the high-priced trainer. Oh-- and new outfits to match.

The saddest part is, as a dear friend passed along, statistically more than half of American horse owners have been involved with horses less than three years. That's because the fad wears off so quickly... it's hard work. We'll just keep on plugging away on our (often rescued) horses and ratty old truck and trailer, because we love it. We know we'll see a fresh crop of spoiled kids next year to compete against.